Knickerbocker

 

The knickerbocker cocktail which was possibly invented in The Knickerbocker Hotel in Times Square, New York, is a little sweeter than a traditional martini as it incorporates a dash of sweet red vermouth into the recipe. The Knickerbocker hotel opened its doors in 1906 and was built by John Jacob Astor to be a symbol of luxury in a time of economic prosperity but 15 years later the hotel was forced to close after a change in fortune, and in 1912 John Jacob Astor met his maker on HMS Titanic.  

It is said that the original martini was also invented here by bartender Martini de Arma di Taggia who served it to John D. Rockerfeller I who in turn popularised the drink.

If you find that a martini is too dry for you I’d definitely recommend giving this drink a try:

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50ml gin

Large dash dry vermouth

Small dash sweet red vermouth

Add the gin and both vermouths to a mixing glass/cocktail shaker filled with ice. Once you have stirred the mixture well, strain into a frosted martini glass.

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Here I used Gordon’s Dry London Gin (£12 for 70cl at Tesco) since I’m running low on Hendrick’s which is rather more expensive. I used Martini & Rossi Extra Dry Vermouth (£9.89 for 1L at Tesco) as usual and I used Morrisson’s own brand of rosso vermouth (£3.95 for 70cl at Morrisson’s).

Recipe taken from ‘Hollywood Cocktails’ by Tobias Steed and Ben Reed.